At Catalyst, we take a tremendous amount of pride in creating a unique and unmatched experience for our community of leaders at our events. This takes a constant focus and a significant amount of time, energy, preparation, debate, and continual improvement.

Many leaders think that a great program/experience is just based on great talent on stage. That is important, but it’s only a part of what it takes to create a memorable program. Here are 11 key elements of a great program and unmatched experience in the local church.

1. Content is king. It all starts with content. Without great speakers/communicators who can deliver, you’re climbing uphill. Leverage the best communicators and speakers on your team and in your congregation. Just because you’re the senior pastor doesn’t mean you have to be the senior communicator.

2. Know your audience. Aim small in terms of your target. Many churches miss on this one. We want to be a place where all feel welcome. That is a great mission statement but it can cause you to miss with what happens in your Sunday services or special programming. Be very specific in terms of who you are creating an experience for. Aim big, miss big. Aim small, miss small. And if the audience you are reaching is you, you’re probably off the mark.

3. Creativity often requires conflict, complication, and frustration. Everyone wants to know how to deliver creatively. But getting there is often a course in patience, conflict resolution, and hours of frustration. Great ideas and great programming are usually the result of healthy tension and debate over many meetings and many months. It’s a process. I always encourage young leaders that just when they think a great idea is the farthest away is usually when it’s closest. Push through the tension.

Read on @ http://www.collidemagazine.com/article/348/creating-a-great-experience